US20090256100A1
2009-10-15
12/456,380
2009-06-15
US 8,328,159 B2
2012-12-11
-
-
John K. Fristoe, Jr. | Marina Tietjen
2031-03-27
A vacuum valve device is used with a bag and has a base and a clip. The base has a tube, a clipping flange and a valve. The tube mounted through a sheet of the bag and has a central hole and at least one outlet hole. The clipping flange is formed on the tube. The valve is mounted slidably in the tube and selectively seal the at least one outlet hole. The clip is mounted detachably around the tube of the base and cooperates with the clipping flange to hermetically clip the sheet of the bag. The vacuum valve device may be reused, is economical and marketable.
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B65D81/2038 » CPC main
Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum with means for establishing or improving vacuum
F16K3/243 » CPC further
Gate valves or sliding valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closing members having a sliding movement along the seat for opening and closing with sealing faces shaped as surfaces of solids of revolution with cylindrical valve members Packings
F16K15/14 IPC
Check valves with flexible valve members
F16K51/00 IPC
Other details not peculiar to particular types of valves or cut-off apparatus
This is a Continuation-In-Part application of a non-provisional application having an application Ser. No. 11/552,557 and a filing date of Oct. 25, 2006.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a valve device, and more particularly to a vacuum valve device for a bag and that allows the bag to be deflated and sealed so items in the bag are vacuum-packed.
2. Description of Related Arts
Plastic bags are non-permeable to water and gas and are used widely to package and preserve items for example quilts, carpets, clothes, and foods such as fish, meat and vegetables.
A conventional plastic bag has an opening and a seal mounted on the opening. After items or foods are packaged in the plastic bag, people may squeeze inside air out of the plastic bag and then close the seal to vacuum-package the items or foods. However, manually squeezing the bag cannot entirely discharge inside air out of the plastic bag. Remaining air inside the plastic bag will oxidize the items and decompose the foods.
To solve the problem that the air remains in the plastic bag, an improved plastic bag with an un-detachable vacuum valve is developed. The vacuum valve is melted and mounted securely on the plastic bag and may be connected to a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump may pump inside air thoroughly out of the plastic bag through the valve so the plastic bag may finely package and preserve items or tools.
However, the plastic bag with the valve has a high cost. Furthermore, the plastic bag has a short life-span and needs to be discarded soon due to the plastic bag is damaged easily or smells after packaging foods such as meat and fishes. People are unwilling to buy such plastic bags with a high cost and a shots life-span. Therefore, the plastic bag with the un-detachable valve is unmarketable.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a vacuum valve device for a bag to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. The vacuum valve is able to detachably coupling with most of the bags for storing food, clothes, and others, so that the vacuum valve is able to be detached from a worn out bag to incorporate with another bag, so as to economically re-use the vacuum valve.
In order to detachably couple a detachable vacuum valve for vacuuming the air in a non-permeable bag, the user either has to make a hole through the sheet of bag that approximately matching the air outlet of the vacuum valve, so that the air is able to flow to the air outlet via a valve tube through the hole on the bag.
However, the hole is normally not accurate enough to match an opening of the air outlet, so that the bag may not be able to completely seal the cavity through the vacuum valve, so as to reduce the ability of isolating the object stored in the bag from the air or the likes. Therefore, the hole may be too small for the valve tube passing through, or too big that the vacuum valve is unable to completely seal the bag in an air-tight manner.
How to detachably mount the detachably vacuum valve to the bag is another major issues to seal and tight the cavity of the bag through the hole thereon. Accordingly, when the detachably vacuum valve is mounted at the bag, bag may also be twisted while making a hole on the bag or while coupling the valve with bag via a non-fixed hole on the bag. In order to tightly couple the detachably vacuum valve, the detachably vacuum valve must be large enough for being tightly held by two hands of the user. Therefore, it is relatively easier to apply a rotational force to tightly seal the vacuum valve. It increases the volume of the vacuum valve, and reduces the storage space within the storing bag.
A main object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum valve device, which is capable of detachably coupling with an air non-permeable bag for vacuuming air within the bag. Therefore, the vacuum valve device of the present invention is re-useable to incorporate with any existing sealing bag.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum valve kit, which comprises a hole maker and a pump for incorporating with the vacuum valve device to vacuum the air within the bag.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum valve kit, wherein the hole maker is provided for making a through hole on the bag, so that the through hole is matching the size and shape of the valve shaft, so as to conveniently and completely seal the bag when the vacuum valve device is detachably mounted at the bag.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum valve kit, wherein the hole maker is able to be used as an auxiliary tool for easily rotating the vacuum valve to sealably couple with the bag.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum valve device, which has a minimum size for increasing the storing space within the bag.
Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum valve device for a bag that allows the bag to be deflated and sealed so items in the bag are vacuum-packed.
A vacuum valve device in accordance with the present invention is used with a bag and comprises a base and a clip. The base has a tube, a clipping flange and a valve. The tube amounted through a sheet of the bag and has a central hole and at least one outlet hole. The clipping flange is formed on the tube. The valve is mounted slidably in the tube and selectively seal the at least one outlet hole. The clip is mounted detachably around the tube of the base and cooperates with the clipping flange to hermetically clip the sheet of the bag.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provide a vacuum valve device, which comprises a valve body and a valve retainer for detachably and rotatably coupling with the valve body to sandwich a sheet of the bag therebetween.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum valve device in accordance with the present invention mounted on a bag.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 1 with an adapter sleeve.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the base of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 2 with one sheet of the bag.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 4 with the sheet mounted securely between the base and the clip and with the valve shaft extending out to open the at least one outlet hole.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 5 with sheet and valve shaft retracting in to seal the at least one outlet hole.
FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of the vacuum valve device in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vacuum valve device of the vacuum valve kit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the sheet is being sandwiched between a valve body and a valve retainer.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the vacuum valve device according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the hole maker of the vacuum valve kit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the hole maker of the vacuum valve kit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the valve body and the cutting base according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the valve body being detachably engaged with the bottom side of the cutting base through the hand-actuating adapter.
FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the valve body and the cutting base of the vacuum valve kit according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vacuum valve device in accordance with the present invention is used with and mounted detachably on a bag (80) that is un-permeable to water or gas and may be made of plastic. The bag (80) has a cavity, an opening, two sheets (81, 82) and a seal (83). The cavity is defined in the bag (80). The seal (83) is mounted on the opening and selectively seals the opening.
The vacuum valve device is mounted on one sheet (81) of the bag (80) and has a base (10)), a clip (20) and all adapter sleeve (30).
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the base (10) has a tube (11) and a valve shaft (15).
The tube (11) is mounted on and penetrates through the sheet (81) or the bag (80) having a through hole (8L 11) defined through the sheet (81). With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the tube (11) may be connected to a vacuum pump and has an inner open end, an outer open end, a central hole (12), at least one outlet hole (13), a clipping flange (14), a first outer thread (113) and a second outer thread (115). The central hole (12) is defined axially through the tube (11), communicates with the inner and outer open ends and has an inner surface. The all least one outlet hole (13) is defined transversely in the tube (11) and communicates with the central hole (12). The clipping flange (14) is annular, is formed on and extends radially outwardly from the tube (11) and is held inside the cavity in the bag (80). The first outer thread (113) is formed on the tube (11) adjacent to the clipping flange (14). The second outer thread (115) is formed on the tube (11) between the outer open end and the first outer thread (113).
The valve shaft (15) is mounted slidably in the inner open end of the tube (11), selectively seals the at least one outlet hole (13) and has an inner end, an outer end and an O-ring (151). The (O-ring (151) is mounted around the valve shaft (15) and hermetically contacts the inner surface of the central hole (12) to seal the at least one outlet hole (13) after the valve shaft (15) retracts in the central hole (12).
The clip (20) is annular, is mounted detachably around the tube (11) of the base (10) adjacent to the outer open end, cooperates with the clipping flange (14) to hermetically clip the sheet (81) of the bag (80) between the clip (20) and the clipping flange (14) aid seal the through hole (811). The clip (14) has a mounting hole and an inner thread (201). The mounting hole is defined axially through the clip (20), allows the tube (11) to be mounted through the mounting hole and has an inner surface. The inner thread (201) is formed on the inner surface of the mounting hole and engages detachably with the first outer thread (113) to securely mount the clip (20) on the base (10).
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the adapter sleeve (30) is mounted detachably on the tube adjacent to the clip (20) and has a distal open end, a proximal open end, a mounting hole (32) and an inner thread (301). A diameter of the distal open end is different from that of the proximal open end so the distal open end may tightly hold a pipe from the vacuum pump. The mounting hole (32) s defined axially through the adapter sleeve (30), communicates with the distal and proximal open ends and has an inner surface. The inner thread (301) is formed on the inner surface of the mounting hole (32) in the adapter sleeve (30) adjacent to the distal open end and engages detachably with the second outer thread (115) on the tube (11).
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the outer open end of the tube (11) penetrates through the through hole (811) in the sheet (81) of the bag (80) when the vacuum valve device is mounted to the bag (80). Then, the seal (83) on the bag (80) closes to seal the opening. Then, the clip (20) is mounted around the tube (11) and cooperates with the clipping flange (14) on the tube (11) to hermetically clip the sheet (81) and seal the through hole (811). Then, the valve shaft (15) extends out of the central hole (12) to communicate the at least one outlet hole (13) with the central hole (12). The adapter sleeve (30) maybe mounted on the tube: (11). Then, the pipe of the vacuum pump is connected to the adapter sleeve (30) or is connected directly to the outer open end of the tube (11) and pumps inside air out of the bag (80). After air is entirely pumped out of the bag (80), the valve shaft (15) is retracted in the central hole (12) to seal the at least one outlet hole (13) and completely seal the bag (30).
The vacuum valve device can detach from the bag (80) to be reused on another bag when the present bag (80) is damaged or smells due to the foods in the bag (80). People do not need to pay much money for a new vacuum valve device as the present bag (80) is damaged. Therefore, the vacuum valve device is economical and marketable.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present 9 invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function or the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 14, a vacuum valve kit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the vacuum valve kit comprises a vacuum valve device and a hole maker.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the vacuum valve kit is provided for detachably coupling with a bag 80, which is embodied as a sealing bag, for sucking out an air within a bag, so that the bag 80 is able to preserve an object, such as food, within the bag 80 in a vacuum environment, so as to minimize the storing space.
The bag 80, which is an existing sealing bag, comprises two sheets 81 overlapping with each other to form a sealing cavity 82 therewithin for storing purpose, wherein the sealing cavity 82 has an opening having a sealing arrangement thereat for sealing the sealing cavity 82 within the bag 80 in an air-tighten manner. The bag 80 further has a through hole 83 provided at one of the sheets 81 of the bag 80, so that the vacuum valve device is able to detachably mount with the bag 80 for vacuuming via the through hole 83. Accordingly, the sealing arrangement can be a zipper provided at the opening of the bag 80 to selectively seal the sealing cavity 82 in a re-sealing manner.
The vacuum valve device comprises a valve body 10β² and a valve retainer 20β² detachably coupling with said valve body 10β² for securely sandwiching the sheet 81 between the valve body 10β² and the valve retainer 20β² around the through hole 83 in an air-tight manner.
The valve body 10β² has an air passage 101β² and defines a first opening 102β² and a second opening 103β², wherein the second opening 103β² is disposed within the sealing cavity 82 at a position that the air passage 101β² is extended through the through hole 83 on the sheet 81, so as to allow the air within the bag 80 flowing out to the first opening 102β² through the air passage 101β².
The valve body 10β² further comprises a valve base 11β² and a tubular valve shaft 12β² upwardly and coaxially extended from the valve base 11β² to define the air passage 103β² within the valve shaft 12β². The valve base 11β² has a center through base hole 111β² communicating with the air passage 101β² via mounting the valve shaft 12β² with the valve base 11β², wherein the second opening 103β² is defined at the base hole 111β² of the valve base 11β². The valve shaft 12β² has a free end disposed out of the sealing cavity 82 to define the first opening 102β² at the free end of the valve shaft 12β², while the second opening 103β² is disposed within the sealing cavity 82, so as to allow the air within the sealing cavity 82 flowing from the second opening 103β² at the base hole 111β² to the air passage 101β².
The valve retainer 20β² is embodied as a ring shape having an inner threaded portion 21β² at an inner ring surface of the valve retainer 20β². The valve shaft 12β² of the valve body 10β² further has an outer threaded portion 121β² provided at an outer surface of the valve shaft 12β², wherein the valve retainer 20β² is able to rotatably coupling with the valve shaft 12β² via the inner threaded portion 21β² and the outer threaded portion 121β².
The valve base 11β² has a sealing platform 112β² located at an upper surface of the valve base 11β², wherein sealing platform 112β² is coupling with the valve retainer 20β² to sandwich the sheet 81 of the bag 80 therebetween, while the valve retainer 20β² is rotatably coupling with the valve body 10β² via the valve shaft 12β². Therefore, the inner threaded portion 21β² is detachably engaging with the outer threaded portion 121β² of the valve shaft 12β², such that the valve retainer 20β² is rotatably coupled with the valve shaft 12β² until the valve retainer 20β² biases against the sealing platform 112β² of the valve base 11β².
It is appreciated that the sealing platform 112β² is also adapted as a stopper to stop and retain the valve retainer 20β² in position while the valve retainer 20β² is downwardly rotating at the valve shaft 12β² via the inner and outer threaded portion 21β², 121β² to bias against the sealing platform 112β². In addition, the sealing platform 112β² provides a relatively large sealing surface to contact with the sheet 81 of the bag 80 around the through hole 83. Preferably, the diameter of the valve base 11β² is corresponding to the diameter of the valve retainer 20β² to seal and sandwich the sheet 81 of the bag 80 in an air-tight manner.
According to the preferred embodiment, the valve retainer 20β² can be detached from the valve body 10β² to remove the vacuum valve device of the present invention from the bag 80, and can be re-attach the vacuum valve device to another bag 80 by rotatably coupling the valve retainer 20β² with the valve body 10β². Therefore, the vacuum valve device of the present invention is re-useable to incorporate with any existing sealing bag having the sealing cavity 82.
In order to securely coupling the vacuum valve device with the through hole 83 at the sheet 81 and tightly seal the sealing cavity 82 in the air-tight manner, a sealing ring 113β² is provided at the sealing platform 112β² of the valve base 11β². When the valve retainer 20β² is rotatably coupling at the valve shaft 12β² of the valve body 10β² to sandwich the sheet 81 therebetween, the sealing ring 113β² is contacting with an inner side of the sheet 81 in an air-tight manner. Preferably, the sealing ring 113β² is a sealing layer provided on the sealing platform 112β² to seal and contact with the sheet 81 of the bag 80 in an air-tight manner.
In other words, when the valve retainer 20β² is rotatably coupling with the valve shaft 12β², the sheet 81 is sandwiched between the sealing ring 113β² and the valve retainer 20β² to prevent the air within the sealing cavity 82β² leaking from the through hole 83 at the sheet 81. The sealing ring is preferably made by an elastic material to provide the air-tight performance.
Thus, the valve base 11β² of the valve body 10β² is disposed within the sealing cavity 82 at a position that the air passage 101β² at the valve shaft 12β² is extended through the through hole 83 of the bag 80 for detachably coupling the valve retainer 20β² with the valve body 10β² via the valve shaft 12β². It is appreciated that the through hole 83 is slightly larger than the diameter of the valve shaft 12β², so that the valve shaft 12β² is able to pass through the through hole 83 to securely sandwich the sheet 81 between the valve base 11β² of the valve body 10β² and valve retainer 20β².
Accordingly, the valve body 10β² further comprises a valve member 13β² provided within the air passage 101β² at a position between the first opening 102β² and the second opening 103β². The valve member 13β² is provided for controllably allowing the air within the sealing cavity 82 passing through the air passage 101β² in a one-way manner.
The valve member 13β², which is a one-way valve, comprises a valve seat 131β² having a plurality of valve openings 1311β² spacedly formed thereat for aligning with the second opening 103β² at the base hole 111β², and a flexible diaphragm 132β². The diaphragm 132β² comprises a flexible air-sealing layer 1321β² sealably and movably sitting on the valve seat 131β², and a retention element 1322β² integrally extended from the air-sealing layer 1321β² to a bottom side of the valve seat 131β² for retaining the air-sealing layer 1321β² being movably overlaid on the valve seat 131β², so as to selectively seal with the valve openings 1311β² at the valve seat 131β².
Accordingly, the valve seat 131β² is mounted within the air passage 101β² at the valve shaft 12β², and the flexible valve diaphragm 132β² is movably supported on the valve seat 131β² to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position. At the unsealed position, the air-sealing layer 1321β² of the valve diaphragm 132β² is upwardly moved apart from the valve seat 131β², such that the air within the sealing cavity 82 is enabled to be sucked out from the sealing cavity 82 through the valve openings 1311β² within the air passage 101β². At the sealed position, the valve diaphragm 132β² sits on the valve seat 131β² to air-seal the valve openings 1311β², so as to prevent the air returning back to the sealing cavity 82 through the air passage 101β².
Therefore, the retention element 1322β² is made by flexible material, such as elastic material, for retaining the air-sealing layer 1321β² at the unsealed position in a predetermined distance between the air-sealing layer 1321β² and the valve seat 131β² for allowing the air to pass through the air passage 101β², and for returning the air-sealing layer 1321β² back to the normally sealed position for preventing the air returning back to the sealing cavity 82.
In other words, when a pump is automatically or manually sucking out the air within the sealing cavity 82 through the air passage 101β², a sucking force is applied on the air sealing layer 1321β² to upwardly move the air-sealing layer 1321β² in the predetermined distance via the retention element 1322β². When the sucking force is disappeared, the air-sealing layer 1321β² is moved back via the retention element 1322β² at the sealed position.
It is worth to mention that the atmosphere pressure, normally 1 atm, is greater than the pressure within the sealing cavity 82, which is approximately close to 0 atm, such that the atmosphere pressure is downwardly pressing the air-sealing layer 1321β² of the valve diaphragm 132β² of the valve member 13β² to securely close the valve openings 1311β², so as to prevent the air returning back through the air passage 101β² to the sealing cavity 82. Thus, the vacuum valve device is capable of sucking out the air within the sealing cavity 82, and controlling the air flow only in one direction to prevent the air flowing back to the sealing cavity 82.
As mentioned above, the valve retainer 20β² further comprises a valve cover 22β² adapted for detachably engaging with the first opening 102β² at the free end of the valve shaft 12β² to enclose the air passage 101β² in the valve shaft 12β² after the valve body 10β² is coupling with the valve retainer 20β² to sandwich the sheet 81 therebetween to suck out the air. Thus, the valve cover 22β² provides another protection for securely prohibiting the air returning back to the sealing cavity 82.
It is appreciated that the valve cover 22β² is preferably made by a flexible material having a flexible elongated connecting element extended from a peripheral edge of the valve retainer 20β² to attach the valve cover 22β² therewith, such that the valve cover 22β² is remained to attach with the valve retainer 20β² while uncovering the first opening 102β², so as to prevent missing the valve cover 22β². In addition, the valve cover 22β² can only cover at the first opening 102β² at the free end of the valve shaft 12β² after the valve retainer 20β² detachably couples with the valve body 10β². In other words, the valve retainer 20β² must seal and couple with the valve body 10β² first for the vacuuming operation before the valve cover 22β² covers at the first opening 102β² of the valve shaft 12β².
The valve base 11β² of valve body 10β² and the valve retainer 20β² further has a plurality of protruding portion to form an uneven peripheral surface at the peripheral edge of the valve base 11β² of the valve body 10β² and the valve retainer 20β² respectively, so that the protruding portion is capable of providing a relatively more frictions while rotatably coupling the valve body 10β² with the valve retainer 20β². It is appreciated that the peripheral surface of each of the valve base 11β² and the valve retainer 20β² can be a rough surface or a teeth-surface for enhancing the gripping ability of the valve body 10β² and the valve retainer 20β² to detachably couple with each other.
Accordingly, the valve body 10β² further comprises a retention member 14β² downwardly provided below the valve base 11β² for being apart from the second opening 103β² at the base hole 111β² and aligning therewith. A plurality of linking elements 141β² are downwardly extended from the bottom side of the valve base 11β² for connecting with and retaining the retention member 14β² in a position underneath the base hole 111β² and being apart from the valve base 11β² in a predetermined distance, wherein a plurality of opening slots 142β² are transversely formed between two adjacent linking elements 141β² to allow the air within the sealing cavity 82 passing through the opening slots 142β² to the air passage 103β² within the valve shaft 12β² via the second opening 103β² at the base hole 111β².
It is worth to mention that the retention member 14β² underneath the valve base 11β² to form the transverse opening slots 142β² prevents an object stored within the sealing cavity 82 of the bag 80 to directly contact with the base hole 111β² to block the air flowing from the sealing cavity 82 to the air passage 101β². In addition, the retention member 14β² also prevents another sheet 82 being sealed at the second opening 103β² during vacuuming operation.
As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 of the drawings, the hole maker adapted for making the through hole 83 on the sheet 81 is illustrated, which comprises a circular cutting blade 30β² for making the through hole 83 on the sheet 81, so that the cutting blade 30β² enables the air passage 101β² fittingly extending through the through hole 83β² made by the hole maker. The circular cutting blade 30β² has a diameter corresponding to the valve shaft 12β² of the valve body 1β², so that the valve shaft 12β² is able to extend out of the through hole 83 while the valve base 11β² is disposed within the sealing cavity 82.
The hole maker further comprises a cutting base 40β² and a cutting head 50β², wherein the cutting base 40β² has a cutting platform 41β² disposed within the sealing cavity 82. The cutting head 50β² has a cutting face 51β², wherein the cutting blade 30β² is mounted at the cutting face 51β², such that the cutting face 51β² is contacting with the sheet 81 to align with the cutting platform 41β² at a position that the sheet 81 is being sandwiched therebetween, so as to cut through the sheet 81 to form the through hole 83 via the cutting blade 30β².
The hole maker also comprises a magnetic arrangement 60β², which comprises a first magnetic element 61β² provided at the cutting platform 41β² of the cutting base 40β² and a second magnetic element 62β² provided at the cutting face 51β² of the cutting head 50β² to magnetically coupling with the first magnetic element 62β², such that the cutting face 41 of cutting head 50β² is alignedly retained with the cutting platform 51β² of the cutting base 50β², so as to precisely make the through hole 83 on the sheet 81.
Accordingly, the first and second magnetic elements 61β², 62β² have a corresponding annular shape to provide a relatively magnetic attracting surface therebetween so as to stably hold the corrected alignment between the cutting base 40β² and the cutting head 50β².
The first magnetic element 61β² is embodied as a magnetic attractive material, such as a metal plat or ring, and the second magnetic element 62β² is embodied as a magnet for magnetically coupling with the magnetic attracted material of the first magnetic element 61β², so as to align the cutting face 51β² with the cutting platform 41β² to precisely cut through the sheet 81 to form the through hole 83 via the cutting blade 30β².
It is worth to mention that the first magnetic element 61β² and the second magnetic element 62β² are interchangeable. Both of the first magnetic element 61β² and second magnetic element 62β² can be magnets having opposite magnetic field to magnetically coupling with each other.
It is appreciated that the circular cutting blade 30β² has the diameter, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the valve shaft 12β². In other words, the circumference of the circular cutting blade 30β² is slightly larger than the circumference of the valve shaft 12β², in such a manner that after the cutting blade 30β² cuts the sheet 81 to form the through hole 83, the valve shaft 12β² is fittingly extended through the through hole 83 from the sealing cavity 82, so as to prevent any air returning back to the sealing cavity 82 through the through hole 83.
As mentioned above, the cutting head 50β² further has a tubular head holder 52β² coaxially aligning with the cutting base 40β², and an operation head 53β² movably and rotatably coupled with the head holder 50β² in a vertically movable manner. The cutting blade 30β² is mounted on the operation head 53β² to coaxially align with the cutting platform 41β² of the cutting base 40β², which is arranged in such a manner that when the head holder 52β² is aligning with the cutting base 40β² to sandwich the sheet 81 therebetween, the operation head 53β² is pressed downwardly to drive the cutting blade 30β² in a rotatable manner through the sheet 81 for making the through hole 83 thereon. In other words, the user is able to downwardly press and rotatably turn the operation 53β² with respect to the head holder 52β² for cutting the through hole 83 at the sheet 81.
The upper side of the operation head 53β², which is the opposite side of the cutting face 51β², forms a handle for the user to hold the operation head 53β² tightly such that the user is able to hold the handle of the operation head 53β² to press and turn the operation head 53β² for making the through hole 83 on the sheet 81.
Accordingly, the first magnetic element 61β² is preferably provided at a peripheral edge of the cutting platform 41β² while the second magnetic element 62β² is provided at a peripheral edge of the cutting face 51β² for aligning with the first magnetic element 61β², in such a manner that the magnetic arrangement 60β² is able to stably and precisely coupling the cutting base 40β² with the cutting head 50β², so as to precisely retain the cutting blade 30β² to cut through the sheet 81.
In other words, the second magnetic element 62β² is preferably provided at a position to encircle the operation head 53β² coupled with tubular head holder 52β² for aligning with the cutting platform 41β² of the cutting base 40β², so that the cutting blade 30β² mounted on the operation head 53β² is able to precisely cut through the sheet 83, while the first magnetic element 61β² and second magnetic element 62β² are securely coupling with each other.
It is appreciated that the cutting platform 41β² is preferably encircled by the first magnetic element 61β² is made by a material having a hardness greater than the cutting blade 30β², such as glass, so that when the cutting blade 30β² is being pressed downwardly to cut through the sheet 81 in the rotatable manner, the cutting platform 41β² prevents the cutting base 40β² to be worn out by the cutting blade 30β².
In order to assist the valve base 10β² rotatably coupling with the valve retainer 20β², a hand-actuating adapter 70β² is further provided at a bottom side of the cutting base 40β², so that the hand-actuating adapter 70β² is capable of detachably engaging with the valve base 10β² disposed within the sealing cavity 82 to enhance the ability for applying a torque force on the valve base 10β², so as to easily rotating the valve body 10β² to rotatably coupling with the valve retainer 20β².
The hand actuating adapter 70β² has a plurality of engaging teeth 71β² spacedly protruded from the bottom side of the hole maker, which is adapted for detachably engaging with the retention member 14β² at the bottom side of the valve body 10β². More specifically, the engaging teeth 71β² are capable of detachably engaging with the linking elements 141β² of the retention member 14β² side-by-side, so that when the hand-actuating adapter 70β² provided at the bottom side of the cutting base 40β² is engaging with the valve body 10β² via the engaging teeth 71β², the valve body 10β² is held by the hand-actuating adapter 70β² to rotatably couple with the valve retainer 20β².
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, six engaging teeth 71β² are radially and spacedly formed at the bottom side of the cutting base 40β², which is the opposite side of the cutting platform 41β², geometrically matching with the six linking elements 141β² of the retention member 14β². Therefore, when the engaging teeth 71β² are fittingly engaged with the linking elements 141β² respectively, the user is able to grip the hand actuating adapter 70β², instead of the valve base 11β², to rotatably attach the valve retainer 20β² to the valve base 11β² or to rotatably detach the valve retainer 20β².
A hand-contacting surface 72β² of the hand-actuating adapter 70β² further provided at an outer circumferential side of the cutting base 40β² and the cutting head 50β² of the hole maker. The hand-contacting surface 72β² has a plurality protruding portion to increase the friction at the circumferential outer surface of the hole maker, so that when the hand-contacting surface 72β² of the cutting base 40β² disposed within the sealing cavity 82 is being held, the hand-contacting surface 72β² is capable of providing the frictional force for firmly holding the cutting base 40β² to rotatably couple the valve body 10β² with the valve retainer 20β².
It is appreciated that the cutting base 40β² has a larger outer circumference than the valve base 11β², so that the cutting base 40β² is relatively easier to be held while the hand-actuating adapter 70β² is detachably engaging with the valve body 10β², so as to easily apply the torque force to rotatably couple the valve body 10β² with the valve retainer 20β².
Accordingly, the vacuum valve device further has an outer frictional surface provided at an outer circumferential surface of the valve body 10β² and/or valve retainer 20β², wherein the outer frictional surface has a plurality of protruding portion provided thereon for increasing the frictional force, so that the valve body 10β² and valve retainer 20β² are able to be held firmly to apply the rotational force for rotatably coupling the valve body 10β² with valve retainer 20β².
Therefore, the engaging teeth 71β² may also be provided to detachably engage with the outer frictional surface of the valve body 10β² for assisting the valve body 10β² to rotatably couple with the valve retainer 20β².
The vacuum valve kit may further comprises a pump 90β² for manually or automatically pumping out of air within the sealing cavity 82, in such a manner that the air is able to be sucked out from the second opening 103β² at the base hole 111β² disposed within the sealing cavity 82 to the air passage 101β² in the valve shaft 12β², so as to allow the air within the sealing cavity 82 flowing to the surroundings through the first opening 102β² at the free end of the valve shaft 12β².
It is appreciated that the adapter sleeve 30 as mentioned in FIGS. 7 and 8, can be incorporated to detachably couple with the valve body 10β², wherein the distal open end of the adapter sleeve 30 can be detachably coupled with the first opening 102β² of the valve shaft 12β² to communicate the axially mounting hole 32 of the adapter sleeve 30 with the air passage 101β². Accordingly, the diameter of the proximal open end of the adapter sleeve 30 is different from the diameter of the distal open end thereof for fitting different sizes of the vacuuming tool. In addition, the detachable attachment between the adapter sleeve 30 and the valve shaft 12β² can be the above mentioned structure by rotatably engaging the inner thread of the adapter sleeve 30 with the outer thread of the valve shaft 12β².
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
1. A vacuum valve device for a bag having a sealing cavity formed between two sheets and a through hole formed at one of said sheets, comprising:
a valve body having an air passage and defining a first opening and a second opening, wherein said valve body is adapted for being disposed within said sealing cavity at a position that said air passage is extended through said through hole of said sheet such that said first opening of said air passage is located out of said sealing cavity while said second opening of said air passage is located within said sealing cavity;
a valve retainer detachably coupling with said valve body for securely sandwiching said sheet between said valve body and said valve retainer around said through hole in an air-tight manner; and
a valve member disposed within said air passage between said first and second openings for enabling air within said sealing cavity being sucked thereout in only one direction so as to prevent said air being returning back to said sealing cavity.
2. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises a valve base having a center through base hole disposed within said sealing cavity and defining said second opening at said base hole, and a tubular valve shaft upwardly and coaxially extended from said valve base to define said air passage within said valve shaft and said first opening at an free end of said valve shaft.
3. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said valve shaft, having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said valve base, comprises a sealing platform radially extended from said valve shaft to couple with said valve retainer.
4. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said valve retainer, having a ring shape, has an inner threaded portion detachably engaging with an outer threaded portion of said valve shaft such that said valve retainer is rotatably coupled with said valve shaft until said valve retainer biases against said sealing platform of said valve base.
5. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said valve body further comprises a sealing ring affixed at said sealing platform for contacting with an inner side of said sheet in an air-tight manner.
6. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said valve body further comprises a retention member spacedly mounted underneath said valve base to align with said base hole and to define a plurality of transverse opening slots between said retention member and said valve base for said air passing to said air passage through said opening slots.
7. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said valve body further comprises a retention member spacedly mounted underneath said valve base to align with said base hole and to define a plurality of transverse opening slots between said retention member and said valve base for said air passing to said air passage through said opening slots.
8. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve member comprises a valve seat, having a plurality of valve openings spacedly formed thereat, mounted within said air passage, and a flexible valve diaphragm movably supported on said valve seat to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position, wherein at said unsealed position, said valve diaphragm is moved upwardly apart from said valve seat, such that said air is enabled to be sucked out from said sealing cavity through said valve openings within said air passage, and at said sealed position, said valve diaphragm sits on said valve seat to air-seal said valve openings so as to prevent said air returning back to said sealing cavity through said air passage.
9. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said valve member comprises a valve seat, having a plurality of valve openings spacedly formed thereat, mounted within said air passage, and a flexible valve diaphragm movably supported on said valve seat to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position, wherein at said unsealed position, said valve diaphragm is moved upwardly apart from said valve seat, such that said air is enabled to be sucked out from said sealing cavity through said valve openings within said air passage, and at said sealed position, said valve diaphragm sits on said valve seat to air-seal said valve openings so as to prevent said air returning back to said sealing cavity through said air passage.
10. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said valve member comprises a valve seat, having a plurality of valve openings spacedly formed thereat, mounted within said air passage, and a flexible valve diaphragm movably supported on said valve seat to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position, wherein at said unsealed position, said valve diaphragm is moved upwardly apart from said valve seat, such that said air is enabled to be sucked out from said sealing cavity through said valve openings within said air passage, and at said sealed position, said valve diaphragm sits on said valve seat to air-seal said valve openings so as to prevent said air returning back to said sealing cavity through said air passage.
11. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 8, wherein said valve diaphragm comprises a flexible air-sealing layer sitting on said valve seat and a flexible retention element integrally extended from said air-sealing layer to a bottom side of said valve seat for retaining said air-sealing layer being movably overlaid on said valve seat so as to selectively seal with said valve openings.
12. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said valve diaphragm comprises a flexible air-sealing layer sitting on said valve seat and a flexible retention element integrally extended from said air-sealing layer to a bottom side of said valve seat for retaining said air-sealing layer being movably overlaid on said valve seat so as to selectively seal with said valve openings.
13. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 10, wherein said valve diaphragm comprises a flexible air-sealing layer sitting on said valve seat and a flexible retention element integrally extended from said air-sealing layer to a bottom side of said valve seat for retaining said air-sealing layer being movably overlaid on said valve seat so as to selectively seal with said valve openings.
14. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said valve retainer further comprises a valve cover detachably enclosing said first opening of said air passage when said valve retainer is coupled with said valve body.
15. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 7, wherein said valve retainer further comprises a valve cover detachably enclosing said first opening of said air passage when said valve retainer is coupled with said valve body.
16. The vacuum valve device, as recited in claim 13, wherein said valve retainer further comprises a valve cover detachably enclosing said first opening of said air passage when said valve retainer is coupled with said valve body.
17. A vacuum valve kit for a bag having a sealing cavity formed between two sheets and a through hole formed at one of said sheets, comprising:
a vacuum valve device, which is a one-way valve, comprising a valve body, having an air passage, adapted for being disposed within said sealing cavity at a position that said air passage is extended through said through hole of said sheet, a valve retainer detachably coupling with said valve body for securely sandwiching said sheet between said valve body and said valve retainer around said through hole in an air-tight manner, and a valve member disposed within said air passage for enabling air within said sealing cavity being sucked thereout in only one direction so as to prevent said air being returning back to said sealing cavity; and
a hole maker which comprises a circular cutting blade having a diameter corresponding to said valve body for making said through hole on said sheet so as to enable said air passage fittingly extending through said through hole.
18. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 17, wherein said hole maker comprises a cutting base having a cutting platform adapted for being disposed in said sealing cavity, a cutting head having a cutting face adapted for being located on said sheet to align with said cutting platform at a position that said sheet is sandwiched between said cutting platform and said cutting face, wherein said cutting blade is mounted at said cutting face of said cutting head for cutting through said sheet to form said through hole thereon.
19. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 18, wherein said hole maker further comprises a magnetic arrangement which comprises a first magnetic element provided at said cutting platform and a second magnetic element provided at said cutting face to magnetically couple with said first magnetic element so as to alignedly retain said cutting head with said cutting platform for precisely making said through hole on said sheet.
20. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 18, wherein said cutting head comprises a tubular head holder coaxially aligning with said cutting base, and an operation head slidably and rotatably coupled within said head holder in a vertically movable manner, wherein said cutting blade is mounted at said operation head and arranged in such a manner that when said head holder is aligned with said cutting base for sandwiching said sheet therebetween, said operation head is pressed downwardly to drive said cutting blade in a rotatable manner through said sheet for making said through hole thereon.
21. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 19, wherein said cutting head comprises a tubular head holder coaxially aligning with said cutting base, and an operation head slidably and rotatably coupled within said head holder in a vertically movable manner, wherein said cutting blade is mounted at said operation head and arranged in such a manner that when said head holder is aligned with said cutting base for sandwiching said sheet therebetween, said operation head is pressed downwardly to drive said cutting blade in a rotatable manner through said sheet for making said through hole thereon.
22. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 21, wherein said first magnetic element is provided at said head holder to magnetically engage with said second magnetic element on said cutting platform of said cutting base.
23. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 17, wherein said valve body comprises a valve base having a center through base hole disposed within said sealing cavity, and a tubular valve shaft upwardly and coaxially extended from said valve base to define said air passage within said valve shaft, wherein said valve retainer is rotatably coupled with said valve shaft for sandwiching said sheet between said valve retainer and said valve base.
24. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 22, wherein said valve body comprises a valve base having a center through base hole disposed within said sealing cavity, and a tubular valve shaft upwardly and coaxially extended from said valve base to define said air passage within said valve shaft, wherein said valve retainer is rotatably coupled with said valve shaft for sandwiching said sheet between said valve retainer and said valve base.
25. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 23, wherein the diameter of said cutting blade is slightly larger than an outer diameter of said valve shaft in such a manner that after said cutting blade cuts said through hole on said sheet, said valve shaft is fittingly extended through said through hole from said sealing cavity.
26. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 23, wherein the diameter of said cutting blade is slightly larger than an outer diameter of said valve shaft in such a manner that after said cutting blade cuts said through hole on said sheet, said valve shaft is fittingly extended through said through hole from said sealing cavity.
27. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 24, wherein said hole maker further comprises a hand-actuating adapter provided at a bottom side of said hole maker to detachably engage with a bottom side of said valve body for assisting said valve body being rotatably coupled with said valve retainer.
28. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 26, wherein said hole maker further comprises a hand-actuating adapter provided at a bottom side of said hole maker to detachably engage with a bottom side of said valve body for assisting said valve body being rotatably coupled with said valve retainer.
29. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 27, wherein said hand-actuating adapter comprises a plurality of engaging teeth spacedly protruded from said bottom side of said hole maker and a hand-contacting surface formed at an outer circumferential side of said hole maker such that when said engaging teeth are detachably engaged with said bottom side of said valve body, said valve body is held by said hand-actuating adapter to rotatably couple with said valve retainer.
30. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 28, wherein said hand-actuating adapter comprises a plurality of engaging teeth spacedly protruded from said bottom side of said hole maker and a hand-contacting surface formed at an outer circumferential side of said hole maker such that when said engaging teeth are detachably engaged with said bottom side of said valve body, said valve body is held by said hand-actuating adapter to rotatably couple with said valve retainer.
31. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 29, wherein said valve body further comprises a retention member spacedly mounted underneath said valve base to align with said base hole and to define a plurality of transverse opening slots between said retention member and said valve base for said air passing to said air passage through said opening slots, wherein said engaging teeth are detachably engaged with said retention member to hold said valve body in position.
32. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 30, wherein said valve body further comprises a retention member spacedly mounted underneath said valve base to align with said base hole and to define a plurality of transverse opening slots between said retention member and said valve base for said air passing to said air passage through said opening slots, wherein said engaging teeth are detachably engaged with said retention member to hold said valve body in position.
33. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 17, wherein said valve member comprises a valve seat, having a plurality of valve openings spacedly formed thereat, mounted within said air passage, and a flexible valve diaphragm movably supported on said valve seat to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position, wherein at said unsealed position, said valve diaphragm is moved upwardly apart from said valve seat, such that said air is enabled to be sucked out from said sealing cavity through said valve openings within said air passage, and at said sealed position, said valve diaphragm sits on said valve seat to air-seal said valve openings so as to prevent said air returning back to said sealing cavity through said air passage.
34. The vacuum valve kit, as recited in claim 32, wherein said valve member comprises a valve seat, having a plurality of valve openings spacedly formed thereat, mounted within said air passage, and a flexible valve diaphragm movably supported on said valve seat to move between a sealed position and an unsealed position, wherein at said unsealed position, said valve diaphragm is moved upwardly apart from said valve seat, such that said air is enabled to be sucked out from said sealing cavity through said valve openings within said air passage, and at said sealed position, said valve diaphragm sits on said valve seat to air-seal said valve openings so as to prevent said air returning back to said sealing cavity through said air passage.